Indoor golf device



March 17, 1925. v 1,529,749

J. MORRISON, JR

INDOOR GOLF DEVICE Filed Nov. 1, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR [0/7 {Var/I500 J1."

ATTORNEY,

March 17, 1925. 4 1,529,749

J. MORRISON, JR

INDOOR GOLF DEVICE Filed No v. 1, 1922 2 Sheets-Shet 2 ill AM 41 =F1EURE E INVENTOR J0/7/7 fl/Ol'f/JOI? J1:

WW5 I BY m/f MfiM M ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 17, 1925.

' unites star JOHN I/IOERISO'N, 3B,. 0F Gil-ENS FALLS, NEWiYORK.

INDOQIR GOLF DEVICE.

Application filed November To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN Monmson, Jr, a citizenof the United States, and resident of Glens Falls, in the county of i 1 arreu and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indoor iolf Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and concise description.

My invention relates to indoors golf devices: that is, to devices used indoors for purposes closely associated with and related to playing the game of golf.

More particularly stated, I seek to produce a device of this general character and admitting of use anywhere indoors, but especially adapted for service in golf schools and in the home, not only by beginners about totake up the game of golf, but also by amateur and professional golfers desiring to keep themselves in practice attimes when, for any reason, they find it impracticable or undesirable to practice or play outdoors. I My device may also be used in playing in doors, for amusement, the game of golf or any other game in which a ball is to be actually or constructively lodged in a hole as here contemplated.

As is well known in this art, various mechanical devices have heretofore been employed for facilitating the general purpose above mentioned, relative to the game of golf. Such devices consist essentially of some simple appliance employed as a sub stitute for a golf hole, and generally used for that part of the golf gmne commonly known as putting. Such devicesareconn' monly known as golf cups, golf dishes, mechanical golf holes, and the like.

The trouble with most of these devices is that while they can be used for stopping and holding a golf ball when the latter is properly rolled over or into them, they are usually so constructed as to interpose in the path of travel of the ball some sort of a surface over which the ball has to roll; and this surface is usually inclined, sloped or curved in such manner as to interfere with the true rolling motion which the ball should by all means have, for the purpose here contemplated. This is a very important point, because the player in using any device of this kind will soon become accustomed to it, and will instinctively learn to vary or qualify his putting stroke, in the manner which he learns from experience is most likely to lodge 1, 19221 Serial No. 598,256.

the ball in the golf cup or equivalent memher. If, now, he cultivates the stroke which he finds to be successful in' the use of his indoors device, this tends to train him away from the stroke-which is used'upon an actual golf green, in actual practice, in playing the game outdoors. The net result isthat the use of indoor golf devices isin someinstances not helpful to the golfer, and may actually be detrimental. to him, especially in the matter of cultivating his so-called putting stroke.

W hat I seek to do is to produce an indoors golf device to be used as a substitute for a golf hole of the ordinary kind contemplated by standard golf practice, the device being so constructed, proportioned and arranged as to enable the operator to put the ball, as accurately as his .skill will permit, and in which the ball does not roll anywhere except on the floor or carpet where the device is usedor in other words the ball is not caused to rollover any obstruction, however small.

My invention further contemplates provision foI'. checking or stopping the motion of the ball under conditions where it would be checked or stopped in rolling'into or across an. ordinary golf hole, but not other wise; and forholding the ball, when thus stopped under-conditions analogous to those in which the ball would roll into a golf hole; the mechanism for holding the ball being so constructed and arranged that the ball is held by gentle pressure upon its top portion, rather than by means of a barrier or the like at or near its bottom.

My invention further contemplates mechanism for adjusting bodily the position of the part thus used for confining the ball, so as to render such part movable toward and from the floor, carpet or other surface upon which the ball is rolled; the adjustment thus contemplated being adapted for controlling the tension or pressure used for confining the ball.

My invention further contemplates a plurality of ball holding members, varying in the degrees of pressure they severally exert upon the top of the ball, and means for adjusting these members relatively to each other, so that oneof the surfaces may be used as a brake for holding the ball rather firmly and another of the surfaces may be more gentle in its action and thus be able to stop the ball only when it has less than a predetermined speed or amount of force.

A prominent feature of my invention is the provision of a suitable support for the ball-holding member or members, so arranged that the latter can overhang the path of travel of the ball, for the purposes above indicated and particularly for enabling the checking of the ball and the pressure thereupon to be controlled from points located above the ball rather than below it.

In addition a feature of my invention is to mount the ball holding members just mentioned by suspending the samefrom a base located a little distance away from the ballholding member or members, so that the path of travel of the ball may be entirely clear as regards the floor, carpet, table or other supporting surface upon which the rolling ball is supported.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawing forming a part of my specification, and in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures.

Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section but mainly in elevation, showing one form of my indoorsgolf device.

' Figure 2 is a view partly in section but mainly a plan, of the mechanism shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a substantially central vertical section through a portion of the mech anism shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 1 is an end elevation showing a form of my invention differing slightly from that appearing in Figures 1 and 2, the mechanism being partly broken away.

Figure 5 is a side elevation showing still. another form of my invention.

Figure 6 is a substantially central vertical section through a portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the portion of the ,mechanism shown in Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary section showing still another form of my device.

A base 9 made preferably of metal and having the shape shown and thus being quite heavy, is providedwith an upwardly extending neck portion 10, integral with it and carrying a set screw 12.

A supporting rod 13 is provided with a laterally extending portion 14, adapted to be thrust into the neck portion of the base, and secured therein bv the set screw 12. The supporting rod 13 is further provided with a laterally extending portion 15, and mounted upon this portion is a brush back 16, carrying a number of bristle tufts 17. These bristle tufts are provided with portions 18 extending into holes in the brush back 16. In this instance the brush back 16 is in the form of a circular disk. Itcarries a number of bristle tufts 19, provided with portions 20 extending through the brush back, and arranged in the form of a circle of small diameter, as may be understood from Figures 2 and 8, the bristle tufts 17, however, being arranged in the form of a circle of larger diameter.

To facilitate mounting the brush back 16 in position, I provide the portion 15 of the supporting rod 13 with a screw thread 21, this portion of the rod being thrust through a hole in the center of the brush back; and mounted upon this portion of the rod are two nuts 22 and 23 for engaging the top and bottom faces of the brush back. Thus the brush back and parts carried by it are firmly secured upon the supporting rod, and may be removed therefrom as often as required, for inspection or repair. By this arrangement the brush back 16 parts carried thereby may be adjusted slightly in relation to the supporting rod 13, by simply turning the bolts 22 and 23.

The supporting rod 13 and parts carried by it are adjustable relatively to the base 9. The operator, by turning the set screw 12, can render the supporting rod loose relatively to the neck portion 10 of the base. and this done he can raise or lower the rod 13,the portion 14 being thrust to a greater or lesser distance into the neck. portion 10. Therefore the operator can tighten set screw 12, thus locking the supporting rod 13 idly in its new position.

A golf ball is shown at 2%, and is adapted to roll freely upon a floor or carpet 25, or upon a table or other equivalent surface. Preferably the base 9 rests upon this same surface.

The golf ball 24ris by means of a golf club, such as a putter, rolled along the floor or carpet until it engages the circle or bristle tufts 17. If it is rolled just hard enough, the top surface of the ball will move against the lower ends of the bristle tufts 17 with sufficient force to enable the ball to pass into the circle delineated by these bristle tufts, but not to pass out of this circle. This done, the golf ball is con sidered as lodged in a hole, represented by the circle of bristle tufts 17.

The inner circle of'bristle tufts 19 may engage the top surface of the ball, and in such event the ball is held with more firnu ness and lodged at a point somewhat nearer the center of the brush back. Thus the inner circle of bristle tufts 19 act somewhat after the manner of a brake. On this account, the ball can be struck somewhat harder than would be the case in the absence of the bristle tufts 19.

The bristle tufts 19 may be omitted or discarded, as indicated in Figure 1. In this event the ball, in passing into the circle of bristle tufts 27, is given just force enough to enable it to pass in by lifting the bristle tufts slightly where the ball enters, but not enough force to enable it to pass the bristle tufts at the point where the ball tends to pass out of the circle.

Thus the ball is lodged somewhere within the circle of bristle tufts 27, representing a golf hole.

In the form of my device shown in F igures 5 and 6 the supporting rod appears at 28, and is provided with a threaded end portion 29, and fitted upon this portion area pair of nuts 30 and 31. An annular supporting member is shown at 32, and is made preferably of sheet metal or firm cardboard, and is provided with a pair of annular flange portions 33 and 34, bent backwardly as shown. Mounted within the annular supporting member 32 is an annular bristle strip 35, made in this instance of sole leather. However the annular bristle strip may be made of felt, cloth, mattingor any other substance suitable for the purpose. A number of bristle tufts 36 are carried by the bristle strip 35, and are disposed in the form of a circle. The bristle tufts extend downwardly from the bristle strip, and the bristle strip is secured to the inner surface of the annular supporting member 32 by means of cement or other appropriate adhesive, or by merely being fitted tightly in position, or by aid of fastenings, as desired.

A supporting arm 37 is carried by the annular supporting member 32, and is mounted therewith upon the supporting rod 28. The nuts 30 and 31 hold these parts together as indicated in Figure 6. A screw 38 extends through a hole in the supporting arm 37 and carries a small brush back 39. A wing nut 40 encircles the screw 38 and detachably engages the arm 37. The operator by turning the wing nut 40 can loosen the screw 38. This screw is provided with a screw head 41 by aid of which it may be turned. By loosening the wing nut 40, turning the screw 38 and tightening the wing nut 40 so as to hold the screw 38 in the new position it thus assumes, the brush back 39 may be adjusted to different levels, so that the bristle tufts 42 are adjusted to different levels relatively to the bristle tufts 36.

My purpose in rendering the bristle tufts adjustable relatively to the bristle tufts 36, as just described, is to vary the degree of pressure or tension exerted by the bristle tufts 42 upon the top of the golf ball. By doing this I vary the tension of the bristle tufts 42, considered as a brake for stopping the ball and for holding the same.

In the form of my device shown in Figure 8 the brush back appears at 43, and carries a number of bristle tufts 44 inclined inwardly at the bottom, as shown. The bristle tufts 44 as thus arranged describe essentially an inverted cone frustum.

With this arrangement the golf ball moves easily into the enclosure thus de1ine ated by the bristle tufts, but cannot easily move out of this enclosure. This is because, in passing through the enclosure to the opposite side, the ball encounters bristle tufts which are inclined in such direction that the ball cannot force its way out of the enclosure too easily. 7

In the form of my device shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, the brake can be omitted by merely removing the brush back 39, carrying the bristle tufts 42. In using this form of my device the lower edge of the annular supporting member 32, with its flange portion 34, braces the bristle tufts 36 whenever they are bent outwardly from the cen ter of the circle, but not when they are bent inwardly. Thus the ball, in rolling into the enclosure bounded by the circle of bristle tufts 36, easily displaces such bristles as it may engage, but when the ball rolls across the enclosure. and encounters the bristles upon the opposite side thereof, it can not too easily bend them outward, as they are brace-d as just explained. The result is, that the ball rolls into the enclosure more easily than it rolls out.

With any form of myinvention the brush back with its bristle tufts and parts immediately associated therewith may be regarded as a. claw, mounted upon the end of a supporting arm and adjustably held at a predetermined distance above the floor or carpet, in such manner as to serve as a lodging place for the ball, and yet leave the ball unobstructed in its freedom totravel in so far as it is controlled by the level of the surface upon which it rolls. 7

While the bristle tufts 19, shown in Figure 3, are arranged in the form of a circle, the bristle tufts 42, shown in Figure 6 are arranged after the manner of the bristle tufts in any ordinary dauber brush. That is to say, the entire lower surface of the brush back 39 is fairly well filled up with bristle tufts.

While in the particular instances here shown and described I show the claw as pro= vided with bristle tufts, it should be understood that I intend to cover any equivalent elastic or flexible member as members capable of producing the general results here contemplated for action upon the ball.

1 do not limit myself to the precise mechanism shown as variations may be made therein without departing from my inven: tion, the scope of which is commensurate with my claims,

I claim:

1. An indoors golf device, comprising aclaw for engaging the top portion of a ball as said ball rolls along a floor or the like, means for supporting said claw so as to leave an unobstructed path of travel below said claw for. the ball, and means for adjusting the distance of said claw above said floor or the like.

2. An indoors golf device, comprising a claw, a. brake carried by said claw and adjustable relatively thereto for engaging the top surface only of a rolling ball, means for supporting said claw and said brake as a unit, relatively to a floor upon which the ball rolls, and means controllable by the operator for adjusting said claw and said brake, as a unit, relatively to said claw.

3. An indoors golf device comprising a base for resting upon a floor, a supporting rod secured to said base and extending therefrom in a substantially horizontal direction, and a claw carried by said sup porting rod and thereby supported at a little distance horizontally from said base and spaced a predetermined distance from the floor, for the purpose of engaging the top surface of a ball rolling directly upon the floor and entirely clear of said base, the space between said claw thus supported and said floor being unobstructed in order to allow said ball to roll freely upon said floor.

of New York and State of New York,

4. An indoors golf device, comprising a claw for engaging the top portion of a ball as said ball rolls along a supporting surface, and means for supporting said claw above said supporting surface, the space between said supporting surface and said claw as thus supported being entirely clear for the purpose of allowing the ball to roll freely thereupon.

5. An indoor golf device comprising a claw provided with a surface for engaging the top surface only of a rolling ball, a brake carried by said claw and provided with a surface for engaging said top surface of said rolling ball, and supporting mechanism connected with said claw for supporting said claw relatively to a floor upon which said ball rolls, the space between said claw thus supported and a said floor being clear in order to allow said ball to roll freely upon said floor.

Signed at New York city, in the COLHity t is 31st day of October,'1922.

JOHN MORRISON, JR. 

